England bosses knew about Alex Hales’ drug ban before picking him for the World Cup

ENGLAND cricket chiefs knew about Alex Hales’ drugs ban BEFORE he was selected for the World Cup squad.

The revelation throws the spotlight on the ECB’s handling of a case that is providing a huge distraction to England’s build-up to the tournament they enter as favourites.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison and England supremo Ashley Giles were notified in writing of Hales’ suspension more than two weeks ago.

But it is believed national selector Ed Smith, head coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Eoin Morgan were kept in the dark.

Hales was initially said to have made himself unavailable for Notts earlier this month for “personal reasons”.

However, it emerged last Friday that he was actually serving a 21-day suspension for a second positive test for recreational drug use.

The batsman’s three-week suspension ends before England’s opening match of the summer in Ireland on Friday.

That means the latest it could have started is April 12 – five days before the provisional 15-man World Cup squad was announced at Lord’s.

CONTRITION AND REGRET

ECB regulations on recreational drug use state that, if an England contracted player tests positive for a second time, the chief executive and director of cricket are informed.

So Harrison and Giles would have known about Hales’ predicament and it is understood the player had talks with the ECB on or around April 15. He spoke to Giles again last week expressing contrition and regret.

The ECB have refused to comment and insist the matter is confidential and one of player welfare. Harrison and Giles were under no obligation to tell the team management.

But, by allowing Hales to be chosen for the World Cup, it suggests the top brass either wanted to sweep the matter under the carpet or wanted to help Hales by not exposing him to further public criticism.

After all, he has a growing crime sheet and is already under a four-match suspended ban for his part in the Bristol street punch-up in September 2017.

Now the story has become public, however, Harrison and Giles face a dilemma.

If they support Hales’ inclusion in the final World Cup squad announced on May 23, some will attack them for being weak on discipline.

Already, former England captains Mike Atherton and Michael Vaughan have said Hales should be discarded.

Hales is one of 17 England players at a fitness and planning camp in Cardiff and, as it stands, he is due to fly to Dublin on Wednesday for the Ireland match.

But his presence would be a distraction with every camera lens and every media question trained in his direction.